Community

Across the globe, Fisher & Paykel's people share a drive to help the communities in which we are located. To do this we forge relationships with key community organisations who, at a local level help us identify the people most at need, and the things they need most to assist them.

We have a strong commitment to our community, from individual scholarships that offer opportunity to young engineers through to country-wide programs to get cold milk into schools. As well as long-term projects, Fisher & Paykel have also responded to immediate crises like setting up community laundries in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes and Australian Floods.

Milk for Schools

Fisher & Paykel are working with Fonterra to provide school children with perfectly chilled milk. Fisher & Paykel with Fonterra, have given each of the participating schools fridges to help them keep their milk cold.

Made at Fisher & Paykel's East Tamaki Plant in Auckland, the fridges have been specifically designed with strengthened shelves and adjusted airflow to ensure the milk is perfectly chilled within 24 hours.

Fonterra Milk for Schools offers all primary-aged children in more than 2000 schools throughout New Zealand a free serving of milk every school day.

Helping Christchurch - Community Laundries and Donations

After both the September and February Christchurch earthquakes, Fisher & Paykel set up community laundries in select locations and community centres across Christchurch to aid those affected by power and water outages, and damaged homes and appliances.

As well as the on-the-ground laundries set up by the company, Fisher & Paykel contributed $100,000 to earthquake relief for the Canterbury region. It made an immediate donation of $50,000 to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal followed by another $50,000 in home appliances.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Stuart Broadhurst said, "This donation is a first step in what will be an ongoing process to help those who have been affected or suffered loss in the earthquake.

Flood Relief in Australia

When Australia felt the impact of the Queensland floods in 2010 our people rallied to respond with relief efforts in the community and assistance provided to relief organisations like the Red Cross. We set up several Laundry Stations around the region at both community centres and evacuation centres where thousands of people used the facilities. Fisher & Paykel products were also supplied for public use as far as Rockhampton. Additionally we donated chest freezers to community groups who were stockpiling food, as well as making cash donations to the relief efforts.

Garden to Table

One new program we support in New Zealand is called Garden to Table, where school children are taught how to eat healthily and create meals from items they've grown themselves.Fisher & Paykel have donated kitchen appliances to help the children prepare the food they have grown.

Donations in Thailand

Further afield in Thailand, our factories have consultative committees made up of staff representatives and management who consider the requests that come in from the community. One example of the many donations made to schools, orphanages and underprivileged groups is the annual end of year food packs donated by staff members and supplemented by company donations, which are then sourced by local Monks and distributed to those in need among the community.

Eco-Initiatives in Mexico

In Mexico the team has multiple initiatives to support its communities, from donations of native trees to ecology units for study and redistribution where needed, to appliances donated to educational institutions for the students' investigations into new technologies. Like so many others in the Fisher & Paykel family, Mexico is an active supporter of those communities affected by natural disasters, donating essential supplies and fundraising to help people get back on their feet.

Fight Against Deforestation

Fisher & Paykel have teamed up with Cuipo to help protect and preserve the world's endangered rainforest, one metre at a time. Cuipo's preservation efforts centered on the belief that the best way to stop rainforest deforestation is to buy the land and preserve it. Customers purchasing any Fisher & Paykel dishwasher, refrigerator or washer will also save 20m2 of endangered rainforest as a portion of the cost will go directly towards this goal.

First Light House

First Light House was the first project form the Southern Hemisphere selected to join 19 other university teams in the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in 2010. This high profile international competition held in Washington D.C. challenges 20 universities to build energy-efficient houses that are powered exclusively by the sun.

First Light House, with appliances supplied by Fisher & Paykel, was awarded third overall, as well as first in engineering, 1st equal in energy balance and hot water, second place in architecture and 3rd in market appeal - all categories that make up the final placing.

Fisher & Paykel joined Victoria University and Meridian Energy to provide our most efficient appliances including induction, ActiveSmart™ refrigeration, a Smart Drive™ washing machine and a compact oven.

A Wellness Strategy

The health of our people is critical to the strength of our business and a focus that transcends divisions through Company-wide involvement and leadership. Wellness programs across the business, such as Fisher & Paykel Finance's recently awarded program in New Zealand, are delivering marked improvements in the overall health and wellbeing of our staff. The programs are also contributing to health and safety risk reduction and outcomes, and downward trends in sick leave and turnover.

Scholarships

Maurice Paykel Undergraduate Scholarships

Fisher & Paykel Appliances supports New Zealand students take up a university degree in engineering by providing four scholarships each year. The scholarship consists of a cash award as well as a paid employment position at Fisher & Paykel during the summer vacation during terms. By supporting our next generation through both the access to a degree as well as on-the-job learning, Fisher & Paykel hopes to impart our values of curiosity, innovation and responsibility.

Young Endeavour Scholarships

Our Auckland Head Office has long supported an initiative to recognise hardworking students from three local schools in the East Tamaki and Otara area with The Young Endeavour Award. As part of the program, Fisher & Paykel participates in the judging alongside the schools, provides trophies and certificates, an exciting field trip for the winning students and a donation to assist with school fees and materials.